IT raids against Tamil Nadu Health Minister

Searches have also been carried out against an MLA, officials said but did not give further details.

“The searches were being carried out in multiple locations, including Chennai and Pudukottai, following a tip—off about alleged tax evasion,” a source told PTI.

Officials said there were certain “inputs” that black money is allegedly being pumped in for the byelection to R K Nagar Assembly bypolls.

There were also several complaints of alleged money distribution by AIADMK’s Amma faction.

The bypolls is scheduled for April 12. The seat fell vacant after the death of the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa and it is being viewed as a battle of prestige for the two factions of the AIADMK.

Vijayabaskar is a prominent loyalist of AIADMK (Amma) faction’s candidate TTV Dinakaran.

Vijayabaskar, who is the first state minister to come under the lens of tax men, is among the key campaigners in the bypoll.

Officials said certain leads in the Sekhar Reddy case, the mining baron arrested for alleged financial irregularities post demonetisation, have also prompted the latest action.